Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Wherefore--Seeing that we have in Christ such a specimen of glory resulting from "obedience" (Philippians 2:8) and humiliation, see that ye also be "obedient," and so "your salvation" shall follow your obedience.
as ye have . . . obeyed--"even as ye have been obedient," namely, to God, as Jesus was "obedient" unto God (see on Philippians 2:8).
not as, etc.--"not as if" it were a matter to be done "in my presence only, but now (as things are) much more (with more earnestness) in my absence (because my help is withdrawn from you)" [ALFORD].
work out--carry out to its full perfection. "Salvation" is "worked in" (Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 1:11) believers by the Spirit, who enables them through faith to be justified once for all; but it needs, as a progressive work, to be "worked out" by obedience, through the help of the same Spirit, unto perfection (2 Peter 1:5-8). The sound Christian neither, like the formalist, rests in the means, without looking to the end, and to the Holy Spirit who alone can make the means effectual; nor, like the fanatic, hopes to attain the end without the means.
your own--The emphasis is on this. Now that I am not present to further the work of your salvation, "work out your own salvation" yourselves the more carefully. Do not think this work cannot go on because I am absent; "for (Philippians 2:13) it is God that worketh in you," etc. In this case adopt a rule different from the former (Philippians 2:4), but resting on the same principle of "lowliness of mind" (Philippians 2:3), namely, "look each on his own things," instead of "disputings" with others (Philippians 2:14).
salvation--which is in "Jesus" (Philippians 2:10), as His name (meaning God-Saviour) implies.
with fear and trembling--the very feeling enjoined on "servants," as to what ought to accompany their "obedience" (Ephesians 6:5). So here: See that, as "servants" to God, after the example of Christ, ye be so "with the fear and trembling" which becomes servants; not slavish fear, but trembling anxiety not to fall short of the goal (1 Corinthians 9:26-27; Hebrews 4:1, "Let us fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any should come short of it"), resulting from a sense of our human insufficiency, and from the consciousness that all depends on the power of God, "who worketh both to will and to do" (Romans 11:20). "Paul, though joyous, writes seriously" [J. J. WOLF].
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Ezekiel 36:26
Romans 9:16
Romans 11:20
1 Corinthians 2:3
1 Corinthians 15:10
2 Thessalonians 2:15
Hebrews 4:1
James 2:22
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